3963.000 Fagonia L.

Annual herbs, or mostly biennial or perennial shrubs or undershrubs, glabrous or covered with an indumentum which is characteristic for each species; branches mostly erect, sometimes angular or grooved, swollen at the nodes. Leaves paired at each node, equal in size, mostly 3-foliolate becoming 1-foliolate through reduction with a characteristic joint between petiole and blade, rarely sessile; stipules usually develop into spines, rarely absent. Flowers small, solitary at each node, 5-merous, regular. Fruit an obconical capsule; peduncle longer or shorter than the capsule. Seeds with endosperm; testa brown, punctate.

Worldwide: About 30 species in Africa, Asia and southern Europe.

Botswana: 2 taxa.